Professional beggars make a lot of money, and give beggars a bad name (if that's possible) making life for the fucked up homeless trying to survive even harder.
I know a big issue seller who makes more than I do for an hours work a day, has a house and car, tried to sell my girlfriend our old stereo (burgled last summer while we were at glastonbury) and is offensive.
The reason he's rich is because he gave up Heroin, which was costing loads and fucking up his life, but continued in the same trade (salesmanlike selling of the big issue).
I don't begrudge him overly (except for trying to fence our stereo back to us, I never saw my minidisc player again, the only two things in the house worth over a fiver, bastard burglaing bastards.. sorry) because I can imagine if he wasn't selling the big issue he'd be back on the scag and burgling. But I don't think it's fair to say that all beggars have a terrible life and deserve our unconditional sympathy.
I recommend that people NEVER give money on the street- it encourages begging. Give the money to a homeless charity instead.
To make a sweeping generalisation, most beggars are drug addicts (usually crack, alcohol or heroin) and spend the money on their addiction, fuelling the situation that keeps them homeless and miserable and thus addicted. How many people do you know who used to be beggars, were given some money on the street and now are not beggars?
To escape the trap of homelessness and begging takes a massive effort and help, which giving a quid to the beggar will not help with.
So if you want to help a beggar, donate to Shelter, don't give them money. |
